4 Apr 2011

Rooney could be punished for swearing at camera

6:45 am on 4 April 2011

The Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will discover on Tuesday if he is to be punished by the English Football Association for swearing at a television camera while celebrating his hat-trick goal in Sunday's 4-2 Premier League win over West Ham.

The England international apologised immediately after the match for shouting an expletive directly at the camera after scoring a penalty that put United 3-2 ahead at Upton Park, having been 2-nil down.

However, the FA director Trevor Brooking says Rooney's actions are being investigated by the governing body and a decision on whether to punish the England star will be made tomorrow.

An on-air apology by host broadcaster Sky Sports on Sunday was quickly followed by one from United, on behalf of Rooney.

Rooney's hat trick put him on 10 goals in the league, in what has been a poor season by the striker's high standards because of personal problems and a loss of form in the first half of the campaign.

But he has scored nine goals in all competitions since the start of February, helping United into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the quarter-finals of the Champions League and a lead of seven points in the Premier League.